The
nominal frontman of the Austin, Texas-based swamp-rock unit Omar & the
Howlers, singer/guitarist Omar Dykes was born in McComb, Mississippi in
1950 (not coincidentally also the birthplace of Bo Diddley, whose
signature beat informed much of Dykes' music as well). Weaned on his
mother's eclectic collection of country, rock & roll and soul records,
he began venturing into area juke joints during his early teen years,
and upon learning the guitar returned to these same clubs to launch his
performing career. After graduating high school, Dykes wandered about
Mississippi for a few years before finally relocating to Austin in 1976;
there he was befriended by Stevie Ray Vaughan., and a short time later
set about forming the Howlers, who made their debut in 1980 with Big Leg
Beat. After 1984's I Told You So, the group signed to Columbia for
1987's Hard Times in the Land of Plenty; although their major-label
tenure was short-lived, Omar & the Howlers remained an Austin fixture
throughout the years to come, also attracting a large European cult
audience. ~ Jason Ankeny, All Music Guide